After the birthday bash I decided to make some changes to Squeaky Books. Mostly additions, but one removal.

1. I have organized my reviews.
FINALLY! I really needed to do this. I have over 150 reviews, and you can see them all by clicking the "Book Reviews" button at the top of the blog. I have them organized two ways by author's last name, and by title. Cool huh?

2. I've created a page for author interviews
I have so many now, that I've decided to create a page for them. It makes me happy to look at them all.

3. I've created a form for guest-posters
I've LOVED having so many guest posters on Squeaky Books. So I've created a form that you can submit ANY time you want to guest post. Just click "be a guest poster" at the top of the blog, fill out the form, and you'll be a guest poster. That simple!

4. No more upcoming releases
After October and November I'm not going to have my upcoming releases page. It was too hard to keep up, and took up page space. Instead, I'm just going to let you guys know about upcoming releases periodically in posts.

Sound good? Do you like the updates? Will you ever be a guest-poster? Do you like the review organization?

Release Date: April 12th, 2010
Genre: Fantasy, Superhuman
Publisher: Little, Brown
Pages: 304
Rating:
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary: 

When Jacob’s foster father whispers, “You are indestructible” seconds before dying in a car crash that should’ve killed them both, Jacob never imagines he could possess a real superpower. To test it Jacob and his friends start indulging comic book-like fantasies. Later, they commit to use this amazing power of indestructibility to do good in the world and save others from death. But the power comes with consequences: how do they decide who to save? And what happens when they blur the lines of life and death, right and wrong, and good and evil?

Review: In a word, this book is POWERFUL. The ending had me near tears. The story is just... woah. What an amazing idea and plot. And the ending! Oh! The ending had me in chills!

If you're looking for a good story, you've found the right book. No question.

With that said, the writing isn't perfect (ha. Whose is?). The pacing was a little strange. And there was a little too much profanity for my taste, that's why it's only 4.5 flowers and a non-squeaky book. Nevertheless, I am glad I own this book and certianly recommend that y'all give it a try.

The book asks you this question: If you could have any one superpower, what would it be?

I would ask that you consider this question as well: What makes a superpower?

My answer BEFORE I read this book is significantly different to my answer AFTER I read this book.

I know it's a little late for making a goal for 2010, but I'm still going to do it.

2008 was the best reading year for me. I read 83 books. I know that pales in comparison to how many books "most" book-bloggers read, but it's good for me.

My goal for 2010: read 84 books.

Yup. Just one more. That's all I need. So far I've read 60 books (17 more than last year) so I'm on the right track. I just need 24 more books. I already have 13 books that I plan on reading in 2010, which just leaves me 11 more. Here's what I've got so far:

A Conspiracy of Kings, Megan Whalen Turner
I own this. I started reading it when it came out, but I wasn't in a MWT mood, so I stopped.

Toads and Diamonds, Heather Tomlinson
I've wanted this book for a LONG time. I am determined to purchase it, and read it.

Sea Glass, Maria V. Snyder
I own this one too. But just haven't gotten around to reading it. MUST read!

Anna and the French Kiss, Stephanie Perkins (Read in November)
This does NOT sound like my kind of book, but I've heard so many wonderful things about it that I'm going to get my hands on a copy when it comes out (or before) on December 2nd.

Infinite Days, Rebecca Maizel (Read in October)
Just got this one for my birthday. Gonna read it soon.

I Am Number Four, Pittacus Lore (Read in October)
Ditto. Just got for birthday. Reading soon.

Soulstice, Simon Holt
Saving this one for halloween. The first one was SO creepy.

Bright Young Things, Anna Godbersen (Read in October)
I LOVE Anna's Luxe series. So excited for this to come out next month.

Threads and Flames, Esther Friesner
Got this one for a tour in December. It comes out... around then.

Enchanted Ivy, Sarah Beth Durst (Read in October)
Just got this one today! I was so excited I stunned an entire room into silence by shouting "NO FREAKING WAY!" when I opened the package.

City of Bones, Cassandra Clare (Read in October)
Yes, I listened to you and bought this one. I started it, but I'm putting in down in favor of EI. No worries. I'll pick it up again after.

Fire, Kristin Cashore
Bought this when it came out. Still haven't read it.

Intertwined, Gena Showalter
Sounds cool. Planning on buying it soon.




So with those, I'll only need 11 more and I'll fulfill my goal! Wahoo!

What about you? Do you have a reading goal for 2010?

Release Date: June 10th, 2008
Genre: Futuristic, primeval, dystopian
Publisher: David Fickling Books
Pages: 448
Series: The Inferior #1
Rating:
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary: 

STOPMOUTH AND HIS family know of no other life than the daily battle to survive. To live, they must hunt rival species, or negotiate flesh-trade with those who crave meat of the freshest human kind. It is a savage, desperate existence. And for Stopmouth, considered slowwitted hunt-fodder by his tribe, the future looks especially bleak. But then, on the day he is callously betrayed by his brother, a strange and beautiful woman falls from the sky. It is a moment that will change his destiny, and that of all humanity, forever.

Review: I saw this book in the bookstore a year ago and thought it was interesting. Passed that on to my grandmother who bought it for me Christmas 2009. I only just got around to reading it.

This book was extremely strange and confusing. It's one of those books that takes place in a non-earth world, and so they feel the need to re-name EVERYTHING. And it wasn't always obvious what they were talking about. It took me FOREVER to realize that "roof" was the sky, and "roofsweat" was rain!

As you can probably guess from the summary, this book gets pretty disturbing. The people in this book are cannibals. It's the only option they have. There are no vegetables in this world, only meat. That got a little creepy sometimes.

This book is also two different stories. The first half is its own contained story, and then the second half is its own COMPLETELY DIFFERENT story. This was very disorienting. I wasn't really sure which I was reading. The second story is quest-like, but the protagonists actually end up abandoning their quest. So... what was the point? *shrug*

Regardless of all this, I gave it 3 flowers because it was gripping. I stayed up until 2 am because I wanted to finish. I don't know if this is because the story itself was gripping, or if I just wanted to know where the heck this was going. Regardless, it kept me up.

The sequel has been finished and is currently going through the publication process for the UK. I don't know about the US.

See, this is the Forever that I was hoping for:

The cover for Maggie Stiefvater's Forever has been revealed! Check it out:



What do you think? Personally, I was hoping for a violet cover. But I guess red works too.

Release Date: September 7th, 2010
Genre: Middle Grade Fiction, futuristic
Pages: 288
Rating:
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary:

An eighth grade girl was taken today . . . With this first sentence, readers are immediately thrust into a fast-paced thriller that doesn't let up for a moment. In a world not too far removed from our own, kids are being taken away to special workhouses if their families exceed the monthly debt limit imposed by the government. Thirteen-year-old Matt briefly wonders if he might be next, but quickly dismisses the thought. After all, his parents are financially responsible, unlike the parents of those other kids. As long as his parents remain within their limit, the government will be satisfied and leave them alone. But all it takes is one fatal visit to the store to push Matt’s family over their limit—and to change his reality forever.

Review: What a FANTASTIC book! I don't know if you've noticed, but I RARELY review middle grade books. Why? I can't stand them. When I read a MG book I'm usually bored to tears or gagging on cheesiness.

Not The Limit.

When I finished this book I immediately wanted to run and give it to every MG-age boy I knew (girls will love it too). The language is at the perfect level for 9-13 year-olds, it features smart, capable kids fighting for right.

Someone asked me: "Do you think kids understand debt enough to get this book?"

Answer: Sure! The Limit makes debt very easy to understand by calling it The Limit. It makes it clear that spending more money than your are allowed to is BAD. A lesson that is very pertinent to EVERYONE this day-and-age.

With such a perfect blance of language, mystery, hope, and adventure, If you have/know a middle grade reader (or like MG yourself) GIVE THIS BOOK TO THEM. So cute and perfect.

Once again, I need more page space. Archiving this page into a post.

Here are the cool YA releases I've heard about for November 2010. Do you have another you'd like added? Go ahead and comment! Did you review any of these? Comment with a link, and maybe I'll link you in the post.

Click the books for more info!




Pegasus
by Robin McKinley
November 2nd, 2010



Virals
by Kathy Reichs
November 2nd, 2010



The Ring of Solomon
by Jonathan Stroud
November 9th, 2010



Crescendo
by Becca Fitzpatrick
November 16th, 2010



Dust City
by Robert Weston
November 25th, 2010



Matched
by Ally Condie
November 30th, 2010

Over at Princess Bookie contest craze began today. This is basically the Birthday Bash, but compressed into just two weeks. It sounds so cool! She posted the first Mini-Challenge today and I'm totally participating!

CHALLENGE: Name Your Top 5 Books of 2011





Title: The Water Wars
Author: Cameron Stracher
Release Date: January 1st, 2011
GoodReads Page: Click here
Why I want it: Um, HELLO! Dystopian! Y'all should know by now that I am ADDICTED to these.




Title: Plague
Author: Michael Grant
Release Date: April 5th, 2011
GoodReads Page: Click here
Why I want it: This series is so captivating! I never know what's going to happen next. :)



Title: Back When You Were Easier To Love
Author: Emily Wing Smith
Release Date: April 28, 2011
GoodReads Page: Click here
Why I want it: I love, Love, LOVE Emily Wing Smith! Her first book The Way He Lived touched me so deeply! Plus, look at that cover! So cute!





Title: The Dark and Hollow Places
Author: Carrie Ryan
Release Date: March 22nd, 2010
GoodReads Page: Click here
Why I want it: Dude. 'nuf said.





Title: Outside In
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Release Date: March 1st, 2011
GoodReads Page: Click here
Why I want it: I adore Maria and love her books with a fiery, burning PASSION! Inside Out is probably my favorite book of 2010, so Outside In is sure to be AMAZING!



What are your picks? If you do this, feel free to link in the comments!

Release Date: September 7, 2009
Genre: Futuristic, sci-fi, dystopian
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Pages: 528
Series: Chaos Walking #2 (Review of first book here)
Rating:
Goodreads Page: Click here
Summary: 

We were in the square, in the square where I'd run, holding her, carrying her, telling her to stay alive, stay alive till we got safe, till we got to Haven so I could save her - But there weren't no safety, no safety at all, there was just him and his men...Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even still alive? And who are the mysterious Answer? And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode..."

Review: NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW. These books are... strange. The idea is so completely original and unique, but the delivery is very long winded. I reached a point where I felt like the author was just repeating himself. I kept thinking MOVE ON ALREADY! MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN! There were so many mini-climaxes that I wanted to pull my hair out! And when did the main climax finally happen? THE END. Total cliffhanger. I saw the final book out already at Borders on Saturday, though. So at least someone like me doesn't have to wait long.

I don't know how other people did it. Waiting a year? Holly Cupala mentioned on Twitter that she stopped after the first one because of the cliffhanger ending. I can totally understand. The author walks a fine line with such dramatic endings to his books. It's very easy to just give up on the series.

With that said, I do still like these books. I'll be buying the third one when it comes out in paperback (they all have to match!), but until then I'm just gonna get it from the library. I recommend other readers do the same. Test drive the series before committing to purchasing them. Good series to borrow.

Once again, I need more page space. Archiving this page as a post.

Here are the cool YA releases I've heard about for October 2010. Do you have another you'd like added? Go ahead and comment! Did you review any of these? Comment with a link, and maybe I'll link you in the post.

Click the books for more info!




The Healer's Apprentice
by Melanie Dickenson
October 1st, 2010



Rot and Ruin
by Jonathan Maberry
October 5th, 2010



Beautiful Darkness
by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
October 12th, 2010



The Scorch Trials
by James Dashner
October 12th, 2010



Enchanted Ivy
by Sarah Beth Durst
October 12th, 2010



Hunger
by Jackie Morse Kessler
October 18th, 2010



Nightshade
by Andrea Cremer
October 19th, 2010



The Game
by Monica Hughes
October 19th, 2010



Stork
by Wendy Delsol
October 21st, 2010



Bright Young Things
by Anna Godbersen
October 26th, 2010